A beautiful group of people living in Munich, but originally from all over the globe (Argentina, Bosnia, Germany, India, Spain, Serbia...) have been coming over to bless our home every Thursday during the last 5 weeks. Together, we listen to Sri Sri's commentaries on the Ashtavakra Gita. We start with meditation or a short meditative chant, followed by dinner (that I absolutely LOVE cooking for everyone :D) and then watch one CD from the series of Sri Sri's commentaries.
At the end of the 5th CD that we watched yesterday, I noticed how everyone looked completely calm and content. There were no questions! :) Following a brief summary of the talk that my mom (she's leading the sessions) always gives at the end, we decided to sing a few songs together as always. Meera was tired and almost nodding off, but was still resisting sleep with all her might as she loves the singing and waits around patiently all evening just for these few minutes! As we sang with Meera sitting quietly on my lap, I looked around at the faces of all the people around me - some old friends, some new ones, family members, people I didn't always agree with, people I care about and people who I've often fought with (and still do :D). I watched as each of their faces went from that state of contentment to pure joy and then to deep bliss. Tears welled up in my eyes as I watched each of their smiling faces - so soft, so pure, so full of love, so deeply peaceful, and yet so so joyful. This is bliss. And this is the only answer to the 'why'.
From instances as simple as relief from short-term or chronic back pain, to stories as miraculous as a complete transformation in their lives. I have had friends telling me how they experience fountains of joy erupting from their very core as they do their daily breathing practice. Young students have written long letters telling me how the workshop made them change their mind about committing suicide. Others struggle as they try to describe their experience of living the vast continuum that is the 'present moment'. It is the relief, disbelief, joy, radiance, expansion, enthusiasm, peace, strength, centeredness, belonging, gratitude, or just sheer deep silence that I have seen on the faces of almost everyone who has stayed with these wonderful and simple practices and the deep beautiful knowledge for any amount of time, that drives me to run after people and bug them over and over again to join a workshop. You can call it complete selfishness. But whether it be my health, reputation, well-being, fame, popularity - you name it - I am willing to risk it all - to see that blissful smile on your face. For there is nothing else in this world that is more beautiful. And there is nothing else that brings me such inexplicable irrational joy.
This song I dedicate to my friends around the world - whether or not I have met you thus far. And I wish you all the peace, joy and prosperity in the world. But above all, I wish that you experience this bliss, even if for just a few moments, at least once in your life. And I wish that I'm there to see that smile on your face :)
"Your Song" by Elton John
It's a little bit funny,
This feeling in-side
I'm not one of those, who can
Easily hi-de
I don't have much money, but
Boy if I did
I'd buy a big house where
We (all) could live.
...
...the sun's been quite kind while I wrote this song,
It's for people like you, that keep it turned on.
And you can tell everybody, this is your song
It may be quite simple but now that it's done,
I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind
That I put down into words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world.
I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind
That I put down into words
How wonderful life is while you're in the world.
Today's blissful recipe (from yesterday's Pre - Ashtavakra dinner)
High fiber, high protein Burritos/Tortilla Wraps
Ingredients (for 12-14 wraps):
14 Large Wheat Tortilla Wraps
Kidney Bean stuffing
2 cups kidney beans - soak overnight, pressure cook with 1 tsp salt and 3 cups water till soft
2 or 3 inch piece of ginger - grated
1 Tablespoon oil
2 tsp Garam Masal
6 large tomatoes - chopped
Avocado spread
5 ready to eat (ripe) avocados
150 grams Yogurt (or Soy Yogurt)
150 grams Cream Cheese (or Soy cream cheese)
1 tsp Italian Herbs
Salt to taste
Miscellaneous Stuffing
2 large cucumbers - grated
4-5 large carrots - grated
Fresh sprouts (1 bowl)
10 long tofu sausages (chopped into thin round slices)
250 grams fresh Arugula (Rucola) leaves
Method
Pressure cook the kidney beans, drain out most of the excess water (leave about 1 cup in), add the grated ginger and stir well. In a separate pan, warm the oil, add the garam masala, stir and wait till the spice starts sizzling gently. Add the tomatoes and stir well. Let the tomatoes cook in the spice for 2 -3 minutes on medium flame. Add this tomato-spice mix to the kidney bones-ginger mix and stir well. Set aside.
In another bowl, scoop out the avocadoes, add the yogurt, cream cheese, salt and Italian herb mix and mash into a paste (some lumps of avocados is OK - but not very large lumps). Keep aside
Arrange all the other ingredients in separate bowls.
Warm the tortilla wraps one at a time on a frying pan or pancake pan. Place the wrap on a piece of aluminum foil. Spread a layer of the avocado spread, followed by 2 tablespoons of the Kidney bean stuffing and then add desired (manageable) quantities of each of the other stuffings. Roll up the wrap and cover tightly using the aluminum foil. Serve immediately.
